“I heard der gun aboomin’ away at Fort Sumpter and fer de firs’ time in my life I knowed what it was ter fear anythin’ cept a sperrit.  No, I aint never seed one myself but—­”

“By der goodness o’God I done lived ter waltz on der citadel green and march down a ile o’ soldiers in blue, in der arms o’ me husban’, and over me haid de bay’nets shined.”

“I done lived up all my days and some o’ dem whut mighta b’longed ter somebody else is dey’d done right in der sight o’ God.”  “How I know I so old?” “I got documents ter prove it.”  The documents is a yellow sheet of paper that appears to be stationery that is crudely decorated at the top with crissed crossed lines done in ink.  Its contents in ink are as follows: 

Harriett Pinckney, born September 25, 1790.  Adeline, her daughter, born October 1, 1809.  Betsy, her daughter, born September 11, 1811.  Belinda, her daughter, born October 4, 1813.  Deborah, her daughter, born December 1, 1815.  Stephen, her son, born September 1, 1818.

Harriett’s Grandchildren

Bella, the daughter of Adeline born July 5, 1827.  Albert, son of Belinda born August 19, 1833.  Laurence, son of Betsy born March 1, 1835.  Sarah Ann Elizabeth, daughter of Belinda born January 3, 1836.  Harriett, daughter of Belinda born December 6, 1838. (This record was given Harriett by Mrs. Harriett Bellinger, her mistress.  Each slave received a similar one on being freed.)

As a child Harriett played about the premises of the Bellinger estate, leading a very carefree life as did all the slave children belonging to Edmond Bellinger.  When she was about twelve years old she was given small tasks to do such as knitting a pair of stockings or dusting the furniture and ample time was given for each of these assignments.

This was a very large plantation and there was always something for the score of slaves to do.  There were the wide acres of cotton that must be planted, hoed and gathered by hand.  A special batch of slave women did the spinning and weaving, while those who had been taught to sew, made most of the clothing worn by slaves at that time.

Other products grown here were rice, corn, sugarcane, fruits and vegetables.  Much of the food grown on the plantation was reserved to feed the slaves.  While they must work hard to complete their tasks in a given time, no one was allowed to go hungry or forced to work if the least ill.

Very little had to be bought here.  Candles ware made in the kitchen of the “big house,” usually by the cook who was helped by other slaves.  These were made of beeswax gathered on the plantation.  Shoes were made of tanned dried leather and re-inforced with brass caps; the large herds of cattle, hogs and poultry furnished sufficient meat.  Syrup and sugar were made from the cane that was carried to a neighboring mill.

Harriett remembers her master as being exceptionally kind but very severe when his patience was tried too far.  Mrs. Bellinger was dearly loved by all her slaves because she was very thoughtful of them.  Whenever there was a wedding, frolic or holiday or quilting bee, she was sure to provide some extra “goody” and so dear to the hearts of the women were the cast off clothes she so often bestowed upon them on these occasions.